Piano-key cleaner.



No. 676,966. Patented June 25, 190i. 8. J. SIMMONS.

PIANO KEY CLEANER.

' A li'cacion'med June 15, 1900.

(No Model.)

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SAMUEL J. SIMMONS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PlANO-=-KE.Y CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,966, dated June 25, 1901.

Application filed June 18, 1900. Serial No. 20,652. No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,have invented a certain new and useful- Improvement inPiano-Key Cleaners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The keys of pianos require to be cleaned from time to time to free them from dust and the like, as also to prevent them from becoming discolored and tarnished.

My invention has for its object to provide a device or instrument by means of which piano-keys maybe quickly and conveniently cleaned.

The invention is fully set forth in the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof are pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side eleva tion of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section thereof on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Having reference to the drawings, 2 is a back, preferably of metal, but which may be of any suitable material, which is provided with a handle 3, by means of which the device may be firmly grasped. \Nhen constructed of metal, the back is provided with projecting edges 4, which are turned down and securely clamped upon the body portion 5. For the purpose of firmly securing the back and body portion together,in addition to the clamping edges 4, I prefer to secure the top of the portion 5 to the back 2 by means of an adhesive, as glue or the like. The said portion 5 is preferably formed from a piece of felt, although any equivalent resilient or yielding material may be employed. The precise dimensions of the part 5 may be varied as desired. I prefer, however, to make this part of sufficient length to extend over the keys of one octave. The face of the part 5 is provided with recesses or grooves 6, one of said recesses being provided for each of the black keys in an octave and being so disposed as to fit upon these keys and of such a depth as to permit the projecting portions 7 between the said grooves to bear upon the white keys which are adjacent the black ones. By making the recesses or grooves 6 and the intermediate portions 7 of proper size they will bear upon the entire surface of the keys of an octave when the cleaner is applied to the keys and if passed back and forth on the keys will serve to wholly remove dust or the like therefrom. By dipping the part 5 in any cleansing fluid the fluid may be applied to the surface of the keys accurately, quickly, and conveniently.

It will be seen that the walls of the grooves 6 have a cleaning contact with the tops and sides of the black keys so that by a single manipulation of the device. all the surfaces of the keys, both black and white, are cleaned. I preferably extend the rigid back 2 the entire length of the cleaning-pad 5 in order that equal pressure may be exerted on the said cleaning-pad throughout its length and good cleaning contact with all of the keys over which the pad travels insured.

To prevent the handle portion from coming in contact with the woodwork or other parts of the piano and marring the same, I prefer to cut away the part 5 at-the top, as shown at 8, so that the clamping edges at will not project beyond the sides of the said part 5 and will therefore be prevented from coming in contact with the woodwork of the piano; but I do not consider this feature as essential to my invention.

I do not desire to limit myself to the use of a handle of any specific construction or material or to any precise method of securing the same to the body portion or part 5, since, as will be obvious, the handle may be varied in shape and size and in the method of securing it in place or may be altogether omitted.

That I claim is 1. A device for cleaning piano-keys consisting of a piece of yielding material having a plurality of recesses in its face to fit upon and have cleaning contact with the tops and sides of a corresponding number of black keys, said yielding material being provided with a back of more rigid material extending lengthwise thereof. i

2. In a device for cleaning piano-keys, the combination with the body portion 5 having alternate grooves and projections to fit the black and white keys of a piano, of a back 2,

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having flanges at which engage the said poris prevented from being accidentally brought tion 5 to secure the back 2 and body portion into contact with the piano-case and mar- 5 together, substantially as described. ring or injuring the same, substantially as de- 3. In a device for cleaning piano-keys, the scribed.

5 combination with the body portion 5, having In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15- alternate grooves and projections to fit the in presence of two witnesses.

black and White keys and having cleaning SAMUEL J. SIMMONS. contact with the tops and sides thereof, of a Witnesses: back secured to the top of said body portion WM. A. MACLEOD,

1o inside the edges of said top, whereby the back ALICE H. MORRISON. 

